Correspondence

Progress, Volume XII, Issue 8, 1 April 1917, Page 939

Correspondence

The Editor, “Progress,” Wellington. Dear Sir, — Much has been accomplished through your paper towards the artistic as against the stereotyped class of buildings, but there is a point which I believe has been missed, I refer to windows. I would like to ask your assistance towards having some alteration made in the class of windows specified for buildings, for some of them are absolutely death traps for those who are called upon to clean them. (I believe windows are meant to be cleaned so as to allow light to enter). Perhaps it would be better to cite some cases in the city. There is a large 3-storied building, the top story windows of which will not open and the only way to ■clean same is to put a small platform over the roof and lower it down as required. There is a 4-storied building, the highest windows of which have a fanlight, the method of cleaning these is to unscrew the fanlight, and fall out on to the window sill, clean the window and jump up to catch the top frame and so return to the inside. There is a 5 or 6 story building nearly all the windows of which are on the pivot principle and if the specifiers of these would only try to clean them, they would very promptly refuse to order any more, The truth of these assertions can be proved at any time, and I will be pleased to show these buildings to any person interested in the matter. A letter drawing attention to this question was forwarded to the Association ■of Architects eight years ago; but so far no reply has been received. Thanking you in anticipation of any help that von may he able to give. Yours truly, A. J. WHITE.